Back and end walls for bathtub alcove

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to bathtubs, and particularly to finishing the installation of a tub in a rectangular alcove by means of a back and end walls quickly secured in position above the tub and having molded in designs for utility or appearance, and wherein the back and end walls are molded as a single relatively thin sheet, and after molding are adapted to be bent along vertical score lines to define the back and end walls and to allow for installation.

United States atet 1 Gardner [4 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] BACK AND END WALLS FOR 3,216,166 11 1965 Brown ..52/511 BATHTUB ALCOVE 3,312,585 4/1967 Hamme.... ..52/35 3,479,778 11/1969 Johnson ....52/266 Inventor: Stewart a e /o Central 3,609,773 10/1971 Mustee ..4/l46 Storage and Ware Housing, Inc., 108 North Elkhart Avenue, Elkhart, Ind. 46514 Filed: Mar. 8, 1971 Appl. No.: 121,943

US. Cl. ..52/36, 4/175, 52/34, 52/21 Int. Cl. ..A47k 3/08 Field of Search ....4/l73, 175, 146, 147; 52/266, 52/26l, 98, 105, 34, 35, 309

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l962 Treand ..52/309X 1 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Att0mey---Oldham & Oldham ABSTRACT This invention relates to bathtubs, and particularly to along vertical score lines to define the back and end walls and to allow for installation.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZYISIS yL- --,7 f l l INVENTOR STEWART F. GARDNER ATTORNEYS BACK AND END WALLS FOR BATIITUB ALCOVE Heretofore porcelainized cast iron or pressed steel bathtubs have been installed in rectangular or like alcoves, and back and end walls above the tub have been covered with ceramic or plastic tile cemented to the walls and often grouted to seal between the tiles, and also around the upper edge of the tub. In an effort to reduce cost, sheets of tiles, usually metal or plastic have been applied in sections to wall areas, but sealing between the sections themselves, and sealing with the top of the tub visually shows and makes the installation look cheap.

Also, in recent years, bathtubs have been molded from fiberglass and resin with integral end and back walls above the tub so as toprovide a complete unit which can be moved into an appropriate alcove to provide an attractive, serviceable, and easily installed assembly. However, these full molded units are relatively expensive to manufacture, and are light but very spaceconsuming for shipment.

It is the general object of the invention to avoid and overcome the difficulties and objections of the prior art by providing a less expensive, more easily shipped and installed, long-lifed and attractive finish for a tub in an alcove.

Another object is to provide end and back walls above a comparatively inexpensive pressed steel bathtub placed in an alcove, with the walls formed from a single sheet of plastic which can be molded and shipped relatively flat to save space, but which is bent along vertical score lines at the job upon installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide back and end walls to be positioned above a bathtub in an alcove, and wherein the walls are quickly and simply snapped in place with mating fasteners.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly as described, wherein one of the walls is molded with a seatlike hollow, the bottom of the seat being substantially flush with the top edge 'of the tub.

The foregoing objects, and other objects of the invention which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by a structure as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, illustrating a bathtub positioned in an alcove, and provided with the back and end walls of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 but showing the sheet before it is bent on vertical score lines; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the fastener means at the edges of the walls.

The invention is concerned with finishing the end walls above and the back wall above a bath tub 10 usually positioned in an alcove as shown in FIG. 1. The invention particularly adapts itself to installations in a mobile home, travel trailer, and the like, beinglight in weight, relatively inexpensive and readily installed. However, the invention can obviously be employed to finish any bathtub installation, wherever installed, and is highly attractive and durable regardless of where used.

The tub 10 can be of any type of manufacture, fiberglass, cast metal, etc., but usually is pressed-steel which is porcelainized. The alcove is built to a size to snugly receive the tub, and the tub may or may not be provided with a short vertical flange 12 around the periphery of the top horizontal edges of the tub to substantially engage the walls 14 of the alcove. See FIG. 3.

The walls of the alcove above the tub, namely the two end walls and the back wall, are simultaneously finished with a single, relatively thin sheet of molded plastic indicated as a whole by the numeral 16. The sheet 16 is preferably vacuum molded on a large mold and from any suitably plastic, usually a polystyrene or a polyester, and in any desired color. Also, the molding operation is employed to form in the sheet designs improving the appearance and providing utility. For example, part or all of the portion of the sheet 16 forming the back wall above the tub is generally molded as an attractive picture or design 18 in bas relief. Utilitarian shelves 2 0 are molded in one or more portions of the sheet to enhance appearance and to provide spaces for receiving bottles, soap, or knick-knacks.

An important feature of the invention is to mold into one wall of the sheet a hollow forming a seat 22. This has a horizontal area 24 flush with the horizontal surface at the end of the tub, and of a size to comfortably receive the buttocks of the user of the tub. Should the tub 10 have an upstanding flange 12 this should be removed or bent downwardly adjacent area 24. The back and side walls of the seat hollow 22 are formed to curve smoothly into each other and are of a size to receive the back, head and shoulders of the user of the tub. The seat area 24, and at least the sides and back of the hollow seat 22 adjacent the area 24, are reinforced with sprayed on fiber glass 26 impregnated with plastic identical toor compatable with the plastic of the sheet. Further, for strengthening purposes, a downwardly extending flange 27 may be molded in the sheet 16 at the line of joinder with the edge of the tub 10. It is good installation practice, although not obligatory, to additionally strengthen the seat 22 with a support built into the alcove.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision of quickly secured, snap-intype of fasteners along the edges of the sheet 16. These are best illustrated in FIG. 3. The edges of the sheet 16 along the top of the tub 10 and along the ceiling 28 of the alcove have integrally molded, shallow reentrant grooves 30 formed therein. One half of a mating, snap-in fastener 32 is pressed into and locks behind the reentrant shoulders of the groove 30, and the other half of the fastener 32 is secured to the alcove wall 14. The fasteners 32 are typically positioned on sixteen inch centers, and are of any of the known types for securing auto trim fabrics to the inside of an auto body, such as the fasteners sold by Herron-Zimmer Corporation.

The front vertical edges of the sheet 16 at the outer ends of the alcove could also be secured in place by grooves 30 and fasteners 32, but are preferably formed with a right angle flange 34 which will lay behind any wall facing finishing surfaces 36 and 38.

Usually during the molding operation on the sheet 16, there are molded into the sheet I appropriate openings for the shower head 40, the faucet 42, and valves 44. Also molded into the sheet 16 are vertical score lines 46, for example, have a V-shaped cross section. These score lines allow the sheet to be bent to define the corners between the back and end walls of the alcove, and the V-grooves can be filled with a selfsetting adhesive before bending to enhance the strength and seal between the walls provided by the sheet 16.

The designs l8, shelves 20, seat 22, and grooves 30 all not only perform their functions as already described, but, in addition, enhance the strength and flatness of the sheet after installation. It may be advisable to note, also, that the alcove receiving the tub l and finish sheet 16 must be built to provide space for any shelves 20 and the seat 22 molded into the sheet 16. The end of the alcove receiving the seat 22 adapts itself to contain, also, a water tank, a water heater, an air conditioner, a towel shelf, or other storage cupboard, so that available space does not remain unutilized.

Not only is the molding of the complete sheet 16 facilitated by molding it with the end walls in the same plane as the back wall (see FIG. 2) but the shipping of the molded sheet is less space consuming and expensive. However, once on the job site, the sheet 16 is readily bent along the vertical score lines 46, with or without cement in the V-grooves, and after application of one half the mating fasteners 32 to the alcove walls on appropriate centers, the edges of the sheet 16 are quickly snapped into permanent holding position. A

sealing material may be applied along the top edge of the tub and along the line of joinder between the area 24 and the edge of the tub, before or after the installation of the sheet 16.

The resulting installation is characterized by richness of appearance, noteable utility in use, and long life. Furthermore, the installation employs less expensive, more readily shipped and handled materials, and is capable of quicker and less expensive installation.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Back and two end walls adapted to be positioned above a bathtub in an alcove and comprising a single sheet of vacuum molded thin plastic, vertical V-shaped score lines molded in the plastic between the back and end walls and on which the sheet is adapted to be bent to form an angle between the back and end walls, at least certain edges of the sheet being molded on the rear faces with shallow, flat, shouldered grooves, and fastener parts snapping in the grooves and adapted to mate with fastener parts on the back and end walls of v the alcove above the bathtub.

2. A plastic sheet as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the walls of the plastic sheet is molded with an integral relatively deep seat having a bottom adapted to be substantially level with the top horizontal edge of the bathtub, the bottom being of a width and depth to entire integral molded seat is reinforced with resin and fiberglass under the seat bottom, and at least on lower portions of the vertical sides and back wall.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the back and at least one end wall are molded wit shelves or bas-relief artistic designs to enhance the strength and flatness as well as the utility or appearance of the walls. 

1. Back and two end walls adapted to be positioned above a bathtub in an alcove and comprising a single sheet of vacuum molded thin plastic, vertical V-shaped score lines molded in the plastic between the back and end walls and on which the sheet is adapted to be bent to form an angle between the back and end walls, at least certain edges of the sheet being molded on the rear faces with shallow, flat, shouldered grooves, and fastener parts snapping in the grooves and adapted to mate with fastener parts on the back and end walls of the alcove above the bathtub.
 2. A plastic sheet as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the walls of the plastic sheet is molded with an integral relatively deep seat having a bottom adapted to be substantially level with the top horizontal edge of the bathtub, the bottom being of a width and depth to form a seat area for the user of the bathtub, and integral, substantially vertical sides and a back wall extending from the bottom and of a width and height to receive the back, shoulders, and head of the user of the tub, said sides and back wall joining integrally with the wall of the sheet in which the seat is formed.
 3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which the entire integral molded seat is reinforced with resin and fiberglass under the seat bottom, and at least on lower portions of the vertical sides and back wall.
 4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the back and at least one end wall are molded wit shelves or bas-relief artistic designs to enhance the strength and flatness as well as the utility or appearance of the walls. 